Fireproof structure.



W. G. EDWARDS, J11. FIREPROOF STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION 111.111) 11011.29, 1011.

Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

3 BHEETSSHEET 1.

W. C. EDWARDS, Jx.

FIREPROOF STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 29, 1011.

Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PIREPROOF STRUCTURE.

APPLIOATION 1111121) 11011.29, 1011.

I W n 5H r Q m mm d m J To all whom it may concern forcing tubular load sustaining parts of the,

UNITED. STATES PATENT onrron.

WILLIAM C. EDWARDS, 3B1, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

FIREPROOF STRUCTURE.

Be it known that I, vWILLIAM C. En- WARDS, J r., a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Structures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The principal objects of the invention are: .First. Fabricated metallic structures utilizable in the erection of fireproof walls, floors, roofs and similar purposes either independently or as an embodiment of a form and reinforcement for concrete structures. Second. To interjoin the concrete with reinreinforcement. Third. The erection of metallic walls or partitions without the aid of tem orary supports. Fourth. To overcome the ateral distention of fabricated metallic plates of tubular formation and increase its resistance to compression.

The invention relates more, specifically to an improvement upon the interlocking parts of a sheet metal structural device for which Letters Patent were granted to me on J anuary 2, 1912, No. 1,013,592.

The invention consists in the novel 'construction and combination of parts such as will be first fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1. is a view in perspective of a-building in which the walls, roof and floors are of concrete and metal construction the complete structure being broken away'longitudirially with a portion of the roof also broken away-and the for-.

terlocking distance members. Fig. 3. is a view of a portion of the metal plate showing the slits in the portions of the -plate which are subsequently bent to form the triangular tubular portions of the plate, and also showing the channel portion ofv the plate. Fig. 3. is a detail isometric view en- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 29, 1911. Serial 120. 663,085. I

Patented oat. 15,1912.

3 view of the intermediate portion of the body section of reinforcement bent to form dovetail channel shaped studs of reduced proportions to that of the channel plate and an intermediate distance plate, the parts being expanded, the lower part being broken away. I Fig. 5. is a detail vertical sectional view taken through one of the channel plates between the trian ar tubular portions on the line m w in ig. 2. showing one of the novel spoon lips for the external support and inward conduction of the plastic material. Fig. 6. is an enlarged detail view in perspective of non-expanded tubular interlocked sections as employed in the floor construction of the building seen in Fig. 1. showing the spring tubular truss bars. Fig. 7. is a detail view in perspective of a portion of the expanded tubular portion of the reinforcing plate as employed inj the monolithic roof construction showing the truss bar. Fig. 8. is a detail view of a portion of the tubular truss bar. F ig. 9. is a View of the reinforcement ina modified form and embodied in a column construction, a portion of the concrete within the column being broken away to show the expanded and perforated parts of the reinforcement. Fig. 10. is a plan view of a portion of a curved concrete wall with apertures showing the application of the invention thereto.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 15 indicates the exterior side walls, 16 the monolithic roof, 17 the combined metallic floor and ceiling beneath the roof and 19 a monolithic floor of the fireproof structure, one side Wall being shown apertured at 18 to show'the reinforcement, and the floor 19 also broken away to show the. single section of the reinforcement applied thereto, as in the roof 16. The reinforcement or sheathing structure is composed primarily of metallic plates such as sheet metal, each plate being of considerable width and of the requisite length. The sheetof metal plate 20 see Fig. 3 1s bent or pressed on the lines of bending 21 and 22 to form a series of longitudinally. extended dovetail shaped corrugations forming tubular cells. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the parts 22, 21 and 22 constituting said cells are pressed from'the original plane of the fiat sheet leaving the portions 23 of the plate between said cells. The distance between the points or lines 21 and 21 being somewhat greater than between the points or lines 22 and 22 of the completed cell shown in Fig. 3. Prior to the bending of the plate 20, see Fig. 3, the portions 22, 21 and 22 of the plate are slit these slits 2 1 and 22 being made respectively in the said portions 21 and22, preferably in the manner shown in Fig. 3, in the form of an acute angle, and in vertical series. The bending lines 21 and 22 in Fig. 3, are indicatedby the broken vertical lines. The parts 22, 21 and 22 are then expanded leaving the openi'ngs'21 and 22 respectively and alseries of narrow strips 24 and 25 respectively (see Fig. 3 which are in sequence n'om one end of the cell to the other end.

Upon the portions'23 of the reinforcing sectional plate are the spoon lips 28. These lips are formed by segregating a portion of the said plate between horizontal slits 29 and 30 which are parallel with each other and at a suitable distance apart leaving a narrow plate 31 which is bent outwardly from the lines of slits 29 at its upper edge in an outwardly curved line and its lower portion forced inwardly within the slit 30 and past the line of the outer surface of said plate as clearly seen in Fig. 5, thus forming not only a stifiening element to the rein forcement but also serving to support an outer layer of the plastic concreting'material and thereby thoroughlyembedding the section of reinforcement as before described,

one end of the metallic sheet or plate is bent inwardly at an angle to the plate to form a non-expanded flange 22 The parts 22", 23 and 22 constituting an end stud.

At a point 21 intermediate the length of the plate 20 as seen in Fig. 2 a short portion of the plate is bent at an angle corresponding to a portion 22 of a similar tubular cell and extended outwardly a distance slightly less than the side 22 of a cell to the point or post 22 as a non-expanded single piece of plate, thence bent and extended in the longitudinal plane of the body section to a point or post 33. This outer part of the plate between the posts 22 and 33 are slit and expanded in the same manner as the portion 21 ofthe tubular cells and to a width slightly less than the portions 23 of plate 20 between adjacent cells as seen in Fig. 4.

From the point 33 which constitutes a corner post the plate is bent at an acute angle in the same degree as the sides 22 of the cells and in a transverse direction to the body section'to the post 35 and the parts slit and expanded in-a greater degree, form a distance member, the strips 34 being drawn to their full-extent. described parts of the plate between the post 21 and 22' and including posts 22 and 33 The heretofore and parts between and portions of thef'dis- 'tance members indicated by the, strips 34,

form the dovetail corrugated stud 32 on the body section.

From the corner post 35 the plateis bent in a reverse direction to the outer side por-' tion of the stud 32 and is slit and expanded as the portion of thevstud 32 between the corner posts 22' and 33' is slit and expanded, and this expandedportion is extended in the longitudinal direction of'and in a plane parallel'with the body sect-ion just described to the post 36 a distance corresponding to that between posts 22 and33 of the stud 32. From the stud post 36 a non-expanded portion of the plate is bent inwardly at an acute angle t a corner post 21 of a cell member with which it is united upon the continuous port-ion of the body section extending as seen in Fig.2 a corresponding distance and in opposite directions to the stud 32, the parts described of the plate between and including the corner posts'35 and 36 and a portion of the distance members 34 and the non-expanded'part from post 36 to post 21 constituting the stud 37 of dovetail formation uponthe continuous portion of the body section; the recesses within the studs opening inwardly as respects combined body sections. From the corner post 21 of the non-expanded part of stud 37 a cell is formed upon the remaining length of the plate reversed in respect to the cells upon the first described portion of the plate and a succession of cells formed in like man ner, the plate terminating in a portion or stud 23 which is precisely the same asthe portion or end stud 22", 23 and 22 at thevother end of the body section, the stud 23 as well as the parts 23 proper between the cells being provided with the spoon lips.

It will nowbe seenthat in order to combine sections of reinforcement constructed in the manner described for the formation of wall structures of reinforcement and for the erection of hollow partitions or walls with the compartments between as. seen in Fig. 2, and extended any length desired,

that an end stud 22", 23, 22 of another similarly constructed body section is engaged telescopically with the stud 32 on the first mentioned'body section, and the stud 37 engaged telescopically with the end s'tud 23 which is as seen opposite in position,

- thus forming compartments whose sides are locking the parts of the reinforcement.

In the upper and lower port-ions respectively of the upper and lower body sections and of the corrugated members 23, the spoon lips 28 maybe wholly removed leaving the openings 31" which are-partially formed by the slits 29 and 30 before the removal of the part 31 forming said lip 28.

i In the construction of a building embodying the invention as a reinforcement, the

. combined body sections as seen in Fig. 2 are placed upon a suitable foundation and the compartments between the body sections and distance plates filled with concrete, which concrete immediately passes through the ex v .panded openings, in the distance plates or members, uniting with the stri s 34, and also through the sides of the tu ular cells, completely filling the cells, and with the expanded parts of which\oells the concrete unites. Immediately following the introduction of the concrete within the compartment, a coating of cement concrete is applied to the outer surfaces ofthe body sections of reinforcement, thoroughly cover ing the same, and being supported by the spoon lips 28'is prevented from sliding off the reinforcement. The coating of cement concrete thoroughly embeds the spoon lips 28, and such as enters through the lips 31 is united with the body concrete.

Upon the completion of the single course of reinforced concrete wall and of the outer covering of plastic concreting material, the latter is thoroughly troweled, furnishing a finished surface and thoroughly filling the pores in the surface with the rich cement .worked, by means of the trowel, to the surface.

Another course, of the combined body sections of reinforcement described, is then placed in alvertical position upon the completed first course of reinforced concrete wall, and the cement concrete applied in the manner before described of the first mentioned body sect-ion, tho-roughly embedding the plates and cells.

In the construction of the combined floor and ceiling 17 as seen in Fig. 1, the body sect-ion of reinforcement, while similar in form' and arrangement to that seen in Fig. 2, is modified as shown in Fig. 6. In the construction of the reinforcement or sheathing shown in Fig. 6, the triangular tubular cells are not slit and expanded, the flat portions and the sides 51 of the tubular cells being imperforate andbent, in a simila! manner to that shown in Fig. 3, to form the cells. Likewise the plates 52, the studs 54 and 55, and the distance plate or member 53, are not slit and expanded but are left imperforate, the proportions however of the studs, distance plates and tubular cells be-' ing approximately the same as the corresponding parts shown in Fig. 2. The distance plate 53 in Figs. 1 and 6 however being extended at right angles tothe planes of the body sections, the outer portions of which distance plate are bent to 'form the studs 54 and 55 of dovetail formation. In like manner, to the combination of body sections described and shown in Fig. 2, the studs 54 and 55 of one body section are telescopically engaged within the parts 52, or the end studs upon-other combined and similarly constructed body sections.

The body sections, as seen in Fig. 6, may be of the same approximate width for the floor structure as in Fig. 2, or of any increased width as occasion demands, as indicatedin Fig. 6.

To sustain the combined floor and ceiling structure, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6, I-beams 56, as shown, are extended beneath the body sections transversely and are supported at their ends within the opposing walls in any suitable manner.

Upon the completion of the side walls of the building the concrete isintroduced within the end compartments of the combined body sections of a floor and ceiling construction, as seen in Fig. 1, thus binding the body sections tothe walls.

It is obvious that. the parts 52 of the ceiling shown at 17 in Fig. 1, may be provided with openings or spoon lips, and the under surface covered with plaster.

Upon the tubular cell body sections thus used as a floor and ceiling structure, a wood floor is shown in Fig. 1. laid upon the metallic surfaces of the body sections, the cells affording a space for the insertion of a strip of wood of like form as seen in Fig. 1, to which the flooring may be nailed in an ob- VlOllS manner.

Combined with the tubular cell body sectionsas seen in Figs. 1 and 6, and subsequently with the vreinforcement in the roof construction as further explained, are the truss bars 60, which are composed of a narrow plate of suitable length and bent between. its longitudinal surfaces. to form a portion of a tube 61 .and outwardly extended spring flanges 62 as seen in detail in Fig. 8; which flanges 'are inserted within the cells between the parts 51, the flan cs 62 bearing with the pressure imparted y the tubular portion of the spring plate upon the inner surfaces of the sides of the cells, and imparting rigldlty thereto. Also as clearly seen In Figs. 1 and 6, it is of great value in preventing possible disengagement of the &

interlocking stud 52, and the stud member carried by the distance plate telescopically engaged therewith. In the embodiment of the tubular cell body, sections of reinforcement in monolithic concrete construction, such as in the roof construction shown in Fig. 1, the reinforcement is the same as seen in Fig. 2, and described of such reinforcement, with the distance plate 34 removed, leaving the studs 32 and 37 asspecifically described on the divided port-ions of the body section and omitting the spoon lips. It is then obvious that the divided tubular-cell body sections, with the cell parts expanded as previously described, may be joined together in alinement by the engagement of the parts or studs 23 and 23 at the ends of such body sect-ions with the studs 32 and 37 respectively of adjacent alined divided portions of single body sections, and a series of such divided part a spring pressure upon the inner surfaces of the sides of the cells and not only prevent the breaking down of the cells and disengagement of the interlocking parts, but forms a matrix for a reinforcing bar as further described and as seen in detail in Fig. 7.

In the application of the concrete to the roof sections of the reinforcement as above described, the concrete covering which is laid upon the upper surface of the reinforcement, floods through the expanded sides of the cells completely filling same, the tubular truss bar preventing any escape of the rich material. Upon the hardening of the concrete in the tubular truss bar, a corresponding bar of concrete is formed, which\then acts conjointly with the truss bar to stiffen the roof. structure. An important adjunct of this type of roof construction is the savingof the weight and expense of plastering material, the steel acting thoroughly as a reinforcement and imparting 'a finished under surface.

In'the employment of the reinforcement as seen in the roof constructionto the monolithic floor construction as seen in Fig. 1 the parts of the divided portions of the body sections are slightly modified, in that the plates 23 as in Fig. 2, are slit and expanded in a similar manner to that described of the outer side part of the stud 32 as seen in Fig. 4, the expanded tubular cell parts 65, as seen in the floor 19, being formed precisely the same as the cells in the roof and as seen in Fig. 2, the bending posts or points 22 however being in the floor reinforcement farther apart. Also in the floor reinforcement the spring tubular truss bar 60 is omitted.

The embodiment of the reinforcement as seen in Fig. 2, is shown in its application to the construction of columns in Fig. 9, the portion of the body section of reinforcement for. the roof structure, without the tubular truss bars but provided with the spoon-lips as seen in Fig. 2, is bent into the shape of a column and the end studs engaged and interlocked with the studs 71, which parts are equivalent to the end studs22, 23,, 22 and 23' and studs 32 and 37 in Fig. 2. When two or more portions of a body section are employed with each other, these parts 70 and 71 are telescopically engaged as heretofore' described.

The application of the invention, as seen in Fig. 2 and with non-expanded parts as seen in Fig. 6, is shown, applied to metallic structures of circular or analogous forms, and with comparts which form a metallic wall partition, in Fig. 10. The combined body sections described are shown with the distance plate 7 7 forming, with the studs 78, the sides to the opening-74. A portion of one of the body cell sections, similar to that employed in the roof, construction of thebuilding in Fig. 1, is then-bent in the shape of a hollow, square, the ends of the plate being bent as shown so as to telescopically engage within the cells 7 9 of the body sections locking being similar to that shown in the roo and column constructions. The opening 7 4 in Fig. 10 and the hollow square described show the manner of forming a door opening and chute in silo construction.

It is obvious that the expanded tubular cell sections may be employed to the construction of the reinforcement as in Fig. 10, and the parts provided with spoon lips, when employed with concrete as a reinforcement. 7

Upon the hardenin of the concrete, the reinforcement is eifectually anchored there-' in. The concrete in adjoining compartments of such reinforcement is identical, because it has passed freely through the distance members while in a plastic state. The tendency for failure in reinforced concrete structures is for the reinforcement to slip in the concrete, which expanding, the cells and permitting the body concrete to fill thoroughly obviates- The only other point at which the sections might fail to thoroughly act as a reinforcement is at the point of telescopic engagement of one end stud around the dovetail stud carried by the distance member of an adjacent section. It will likewise be seen that the concrete bars formed within the tubular cells adja- '100 of the reinforcement, this form of intercent to those interlocking parts, thoroughly anchors the interlocking parts to their proper position, and hence the structure will not fail until the elastic limit of the steel has been reached.

It is obvious that the tubular cell sections of reinforcement described may be employed without the concrete for such uses as Walls to structures of various kinds, and

the metal exposed to the weather suitably protected by a coating of paint.

The invention is also applicable to the construction of bridges, tanks, chimneys, wharf revetments and various other purposes.

Such other modifications may be employed as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. In a fabricated sheet metal reinforcement comprising oppositely positioned, longitudinally extended recessed studs of dovetail formation and a distance member be tween said studs, the said studs being attached integrally to the outer edges of the distance member and the recesses in said studs opening in opposite directions, the combination therewith of a separate reinforcement consisting of a sheet metal stud of dovetail formation extending telescopically upon and inclosing the outer surfaces of either of the said recessed studs.

2. A fabricated stud and sheathing structure or reinforcement composed of a plate of sheet metal having intermediate its ends a distance member or plate between two side members in parallel planes; each of which side members having one or more longitudinally extended dovetail corrugations and the outer and inner ends of said side members terminate in end studs and recessed studs, respectively, of dovetail formation, said recessed studs being integrally connected with the outer portions of the dis tance member; the said recessed studs being slightly smaller in cross section than the said end studs carried by their respective side members.

' 3. Fabricated sheathing structures or reinforcement composed of combined plates or' sections of sheet metal, each of which p'lates having intermediate its ends a distance plate or member between two side members in parallel planes, each of which side members having one or more longitudinally extended dovetail corrugations and the outer and inner ends of which side members terminate in end and recessed studs, respectively, of dovetail formation, which recessed studs are integrally connected with v the outer portions of the distance member;

said recessed studs being slightl smaller in cross-section and telescopical y engaged within the end studs of an adjacent'section.

4. A fabricated stud and sheathing structure or reinforcement composed of an expanded metal plate having intermediate its ends a distance member between two side members in parallel planes; each of which side members having one or more longitudinally extended dovetail corrugations, and the outer and inner ends of said side members terminating in end studs and recessed studs, respectively, of dovetail corrugated formation, said recessed studs being integrally connected with the outer portions of the distance member; the said recessed studs being slightly smaller in cross section than the end stud's carried by their respective side members.

5. Fabricated sheathing structures or reinforcement composed of combined plates or sections of expanded metal, each of which plates, intermediate its ends, having a distance plate between two side members in parallel planes, each of which side members having one or more longitudinally extended dovetail corrugations and the outer and inner ends of which side members terminate in end and recessed studs, respectively, of-

dovetail formation, which recessed studs are integrally connected with the outer portions of the distance member; said recessed studs being slightly smaller in cross section and telescopically engaged within the end studs of an adjacent section.

6. In a sheathing structure or reinforce ment comprising metal plates having longitudinally extended tubular cells, reinforcements consisting of strips of sheet metal forming tubular sprin truss bars having side flanges thereon w ich flanges are inserted wlthin and bear against the inner sides of said cells.

7. In a reinforcement comprising metal plates and tubular cells fabricated thereon, formed of expanded metal, tubular -truss bars and spring flanges carried by the truss bars which bear upon the lower'inner surfaces of the sides of the expanded parts of the cells.

8. A fabricated metallic structure com- 

